And the best e-car charging network is...

And the best e-car charging network is...

As the number of electric vehicles grows, so does the importance of the charging infrastructure - which is why the global infrastructure and benchmarking specialist umlaut and the international telecommunications test magazine for consumers Connect have jointly subjected them to a comprehensive charging network test for the third time. The e-mobility providers (EMP – providers of charging apps and billing solutions) and charge point operators (CPO – operators of charging stations) were tested in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. The result: EnBW wins a double victory in Germany – with first place in the EMP category and in the CPO evaluation. Ionity secures victory among CPOs in Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. The provider Fastned is in first place among CPOs in the Netherlands. Among the EMPs, Smatrics wins in Austria and Move in Switzerland.

For this year's charging network test, umlaut's testers examined and recorded the technology, comfort and billing of the electromobility providers EnBW, E.ON, EWE, EVPass, Maingau, Move, Shell, Swisscharge and Smatrics as well as those of the charge point operators Agrola, Allego, Fastned, Chargy, Da emobil, GoFast, lonity, Kelag, Mer, Move, Powerland, Smatrics and Socar – EnBW, E.ON, EWE, Move, Shell and Smatrics are both electric mobility providers and charge point operators. As in the 2020 charging network test, the test partners focused on the charging locations with “High Power Charging” (HPC) that are relevant for long-distance journeys. 

In Germany, the test drivers covered umlaut 3,024 kilometers - with a total of 46 charging stops at HPC stations. In Austria it was 1,374 kilometers with 19 charging stops. The Swiss route took the test drivers 543 kilometers to 22 charging stops. The routes through the Benelux countries measured 1,942 kilometers with 23 charging stops.